Ex - Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Exec, Others Arrested On Suspicion Of Bribery
Prosecutors in Tokyo have arrested a former executive of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and three others for suspected bribery related to the Games sponsorship and sales of officially licensed products.
The arrested individuals are former organizing committee executive Takahashi Haruyuki, former chairman and founder of business suit retailer Aoki Holdings Aoki Hironori, Aoki's younger brother who is former Aoki Holdings vice chairman and the former head of an Aoki subsidiary.
The prosecutors suspect that Aoki's side requested that Takahashi provide favors in relation to sponsorship and licensing contracts.
Takahashi allegedly had the retailer send money totaling 51 million yen, or about 380,000 dollars, to his firm's account from October 2017 through March this year.
Takahashi is a former executive of advertising company Dentsu. He is known as a leader of the sport business sector in Japan.
Sources close to the matter said an asset-management company of Aoki and others signed a consulting contract in 2017 with Takahashi's firm.
Takahashi introduced Aoki Holdings to other organizing committee executives as a Games sponsor candidate.
Aoki Holdings became a Games sponsor in 2018 and sold suits and other items as the Games' officially licensed products.
The arrested former Aoki Holdings chairman and others are suspected of having sent a document to Takahashi calling for the screening of licensed products to be accelerated.
The prosecutors are yet to disclose whether the arrested have admitted to allegations.
Sources say Takahashi told prosecutors during voluntary questioning before his arrest that he had told Aoki's side that he cannot cooperate with them over matters related to the Games. He reportedly denied illicit acts, claiming that the money he received was for legitimate fees for consulting work he did for Aoki's overall business.
The former Aoki Holdings chairman allegedly said during voluntary questioning before his arrest that he had had high hopes for Takahashi's abilities.
Responding to the news, the advertising company Dentsu said it is very sorry that its former executive was arrested. It added that it will fully cooperate with the investigation.
Aoki Holdings said it is taking the matter seriously. It also said it sincerely apologizes for causing grave concern and inconvenience.
Aoki Holdings was built from the ground up by Aoki Hironori. It now has over 600 branches nationwide.